June 17, 2015

Mt 6: 1-6. 16-18

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Spirit of Generosity

We live in a fast-paced, hyper-connected culture that praises being noticed and keeping score. Reality shows abound. But what reality do they represent?

Jesus invites us into a deeper reality that we are created by God, who loves and cares for us. A reality in which God sends us into the world as agents of his love, as builders of the Kingdom.

In his “Meditation on the Two Standards” from the Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius makes clear that all disciples have to choose whether they will stand with Jesus or with the world. Standing with Jesus means recognizing life and all that we have as a gift from God. It means being so grateful that we can’t help but give back through love and service.

As we go through this day, how might we show our gratitude by giving without counting the cost?

Prayer

Prayer for Generosity
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to seek reward,
except that of knowing that I do your will.

Amen.

—Saint Ignatius Loyola

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June 17, 2015

Mt 6: 1-6. 16-18

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Spirit of Generosity

We live in a fast-paced, hyper-connected culture that praises being noticed and keeping score. Reality shows abound. But what reality do they represent?

Jesus invites us into a deeper reality that we are created by God, who loves and cares for us. A reality in which God sends us into the world as agents of his love, as builders of the Kingdom.

In his “Meditation on the Two Standards” from the Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius makes clear that all disciples have to choose whether they will stand with Jesus or with the world. Standing with Jesus means recognizing life and all that we have as a gift from God. It means being so grateful that we can’t help but give back through love and service.

As we go through this day, how might we show our gratitude by giving without counting the cost?

Prayer

Prayer for Generosity
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to seek reward,
except that of knowing that I do your will.